Public Policy Praxis
A Case Approach for Understanding Policy and Analysis
4th Edition
Published on 3. March 2020
346 pages
978-1-000-02722-8 (ISBN)
Description
Public administration and policy analysis education have long emphasized tidiness, stages, and rationality, but practitioners frequently must deal with a world where objectivity is buffeted by, repressed by, and sometimes defeated by value conflict. Politics and policy are "messy" and power explains much more about the policy process than does rationality. Public Policy Praxis, now in a thoroughly revised fourth edition, uniquely equips students to better grapple with ambiguity and complexity. By emphasizing mixed methodologies, the reader is encouraged, through the use of a wide variety of policy cases, to develop a workable and practical model of applied policy analysis.
Students are given the opportunity to try out these globally applicable analytical models and tools in varied case settings (e.g., county, city, federal, international, plus urban and rural) while facing wide-ranging topics (starving farmers and the red panda in Nepal, e-cigarettes, GMOs, the gig economy, and opioid abuse) that capture the diversity and reality of public policy analysis and the intergovernmental and complex nature of politics. The fourth edition expands upon its thorough exploration of specific tools of policy analysis, such as stakeholder mapping, content analysis, group facilitation, narrative analysis, cost-benefit analysis, futuring, and survey analysis. Along with teaching "how to," the authors discuss the limitations, the practical political problems, and the ethical problems associated with different techniques and methodologies. Many new cases have been added, along with clear instructions on how to do congressional research and a Google Trends analysis. An expanded online Teaching Appendix is included for adopters, offering original cases, answers to problems, alternative approaches to case use, teaching exercises, student assignments, pedagogical ideas, and supplemental material directly tied to concepts covered in the text. With an easily accessible and conversational writing style, Public Policy Praxis is an ideal textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in public policy analysis, community planning, leadership, social welfare policy, educational policy, family policy, and special seminars.
Students are given the opportunity to try out these globally applicable analytical models and tools in varied case settings (e.g., county, city, federal, international, plus urban and rural) while facing wide-ranging topics (starving farmers and the red panda in Nepal, e-cigarettes, GMOs, the gig economy, and opioid abuse) that capture the diversity and reality of public policy analysis and the intergovernmental and complex nature of politics. The fourth edition expands upon its thorough exploration of specific tools of policy analysis, such as stakeholder mapping, content analysis, group facilitation, narrative analysis, cost-benefit analysis, futuring, and survey analysis. Along with teaching "how to," the authors discuss the limitations, the practical political problems, and the ethical problems associated with different techniques and methodologies. Many new cases have been added, along with clear instructions on how to do congressional research and a Google Trends analysis. An expanded online Teaching Appendix is included for adopters, offering original cases, answers to problems, alternative approaches to case use, teaching exercises, student assignments, pedagogical ideas, and supplemental material directly tied to concepts covered in the text. With an easily accessible and conversational writing style, Public Policy Praxis is an ideal textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in public policy analysis, community planning, leadership, social welfare policy, educational policy, family policy, and special seminars.
Reviews / Votes
"Analyzing policy is hard. But Clemons and McBeth-with their focus on the politics of policy through case studies-makes understanding why it is hard, easy. Their 4th edition, per usual, exceeds expectations and continues to be my go-to policy analysis text." -- Michael D. Jones, Oregon State University, USA"Clemons and McBeth's Public Policy Praxis offers a refreshing approach for students to understand the politics of public policy and yet also learn and use practical tools for policy analysis. This book offers cases and exercises for students to experience the complexity of decision-making, all-the-while putting abstract concepts of public policy into practice." -- Elizabeth Shanahan, Montana State University, USA
More details
Edition
4th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
22 Tables, black and white; 9 Line drawings, black and white; 32 Illustrations, black and white
ISBN-13
978-1-000-02722-8 (9781000027228)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Randy S. Clemons | Mark K. McBeth
Public Policy Praxis
A Case Approach for Understanding Policy and Analysis
Book
03/2020
4th Edition
Routledge
€241.60
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Randy S. Clemons | Mark K. McBeth
Public Policy Praxis
A Case Approach for Understanding Policy and Analysis
Book
03/2020
4th Edition
Routledge
€84.80
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
Randy S. Clemons is Professor of Political Science and the Associate Dean of the Ridge College of Intelligence Studies & Applied Sciences at Mercyhurst University, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA.
Mark K. McBeth is Professor in the Department of Political Science at Idaho State University, USA.
Mark K. McBeth is Professor in the Department of Political Science at Idaho State University, USA.
Content
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Boxes
List of Cases
Preface to the Fourth Edition
Acknowledgments
Part I Overview
Chapter 1 Public Policy, Power, the People, Pluralism, and You
Mini-Case: Opioid Abuse and Waterville
Introduction
Introducing Narrative Analysis
Value Conflict
A Political System
Public Policy and Linkage Mechanisms
Power and Policymaking
An Ideal (Direct) Democracy
Representative Democracy
Interest Group Democracy (Pluralism)
Elitism
Elite Democracy: The Irony of Democracy
Effect of Power Structures on the Policy Analyst
Stakeholder Analysis
Mini-Case: This Isn't a Hilton Hotel, MA'AM
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary Terms
The "Gig Economy" Case: Uber (and Lyft) from Boise to Burlington
Part II Theory & Practice: Rationality, Nonrationality, Politics, and the Policy Process
Chapter 2 The Rational Public Policy Method
Genesis of the Rational Model
The Rational Public Policy Method in Theory
A Critical Reaction
The Rational Model in Practice
Rationality or Something Else?
Mini-Case: Portersville Health Clinic
Model Evaluation
Heading to a Conclusion
Concluding Thoughts
Mini-Case: Democracy or Science? Climate Change and GMOs
Glossary Terms
Chapter 3 The Positivist Toolbox
Introduction
In Defense of Rationality and Big Data: Evidence Based Politics
Shaundra the Policy Analyst
Tool #1: Sampling and Mail Surveys Tool #2: Extrapolation and Forecasting
Tool #3: Measures of Central Tendency
Tool #4: Discounting
Tool #5: Cost-Benefit Analysis
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary Terms
Chapter 4 Critiques of the Rational Approach
Examples of the Power of Nonrational Explanations
Critiques of the Rational Model
Case Study: Vaping Politics and Policy - Up in Smoke
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary Terms
Chapter 5 The Nonrational (Political) Approach
Essence and Overview of the Policy Process
Problem Identification/Gaining Agenda Status
Policy Formulation, Adoption, and Funding
Policy Implementation
Policy Evaluation, Adjustment, Termination
Mini-Case: The Pocatello Prison Siting Story: A Case of Politics
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary Terms
Case Study: "Opioids and The Political Model of Policy Analysis"
Part III Practice and Theory: Problem Definition, Pragmatism, Policy Analysis, Methodologies and Democracy
Chapter 6 A Pragmatic Public Policy Analysis Method
The Rational Public Policy Analysis Method: History and Form
A Five-Step Method
Summary of the Five-Step Method
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary Terms
Case Study: Playing Politics: Bison, Brucellosis, Business, and Bureaucrats
Chapter 7 Problem Definition, Mixed Methodologies, and Praxis
Anti-Praxis: The Two Tracks of Policy Analysis
The Ambiguous and Subjective Nature of Events in the System
School Shootings and Problem Definition
What Is the "Truth" and How Are Policies Generated?
Stone and Company: The Symbolic Representation of Problem Definition
The Social Construction of Public Problems
Mixed-Methods Tools
Using Language in Problem Definition: The Yellowstone Bison Controversy
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary Terms
Case Study: School Shootings and Focus Group Research: Narrative Analysis and Problem Definition
Chapter 8 Doing Democracy: A New (Six) Step Model
Defining Democracy
Democracy as an Ambiguous Symbol
The Critique of Traditional Policy Analysis
Structuring Democracy
Communitarianism and Democracy
Democratizing Steps I through IV and Inserting a New Fifth Step into a Six Step Model
Doing Democracy: Postpositivist Tools
Ethics as Democracy
A Tie that Binds
Mini-Case: Kathmandu: Red Pandas, Hunger, USAID, and Agriculture in Nepal
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary Terms
Case Study: Big-Mart: Cheap Goods at What Price? Stakeholders and Storytellers: Playing Politics and the Policy Process
Part IV: Conclusion - Praxis/Practice
Chapter 9 Letting you Show Off
Do Facts Matter?
Mini-Case: Opioid Abuse and Waterville (Revisited)
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
List of Tables
List of Boxes
List of Cases
Preface to the Fourth Edition
Acknowledgments
Part I Overview
Chapter 1 Public Policy, Power, the People, Pluralism, and You
Mini-Case: Opioid Abuse and Waterville
Introduction
Introducing Narrative Analysis
Value Conflict
A Political System
Public Policy and Linkage Mechanisms
Power and Policymaking
An Ideal (Direct) Democracy
Representative Democracy
Interest Group Democracy (Pluralism)
Elitism
Elite Democracy: The Irony of Democracy
Effect of Power Structures on the Policy Analyst
Stakeholder Analysis
Mini-Case: This Isn't a Hilton Hotel, MA'AM
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary Terms
The "Gig Economy" Case: Uber (and Lyft) from Boise to Burlington
Part II Theory & Practice: Rationality, Nonrationality, Politics, and the Policy Process
Chapter 2 The Rational Public Policy Method
Genesis of the Rational Model
The Rational Public Policy Method in Theory
A Critical Reaction
The Rational Model in Practice
Rationality or Something Else?
Mini-Case: Portersville Health Clinic
Model Evaluation
Heading to a Conclusion
Concluding Thoughts
Mini-Case: Democracy or Science? Climate Change and GMOs
Glossary Terms
Chapter 3 The Positivist Toolbox
Introduction
In Defense of Rationality and Big Data: Evidence Based Politics
Shaundra the Policy Analyst
Tool #1: Sampling and Mail Surveys Tool #2: Extrapolation and Forecasting
Tool #3: Measures of Central Tendency
Tool #4: Discounting
Tool #5: Cost-Benefit Analysis
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary Terms
Chapter 4 Critiques of the Rational Approach
Examples of the Power of Nonrational Explanations
Critiques of the Rational Model
Case Study: Vaping Politics and Policy - Up in Smoke
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary Terms
Chapter 5 The Nonrational (Political) Approach
Essence and Overview of the Policy Process
Problem Identification/Gaining Agenda Status
Policy Formulation, Adoption, and Funding
Policy Implementation
Policy Evaluation, Adjustment, Termination
Mini-Case: The Pocatello Prison Siting Story: A Case of Politics
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary Terms
Case Study: "Opioids and The Political Model of Policy Analysis"
Part III Practice and Theory: Problem Definition, Pragmatism, Policy Analysis, Methodologies and Democracy
Chapter 6 A Pragmatic Public Policy Analysis Method
The Rational Public Policy Analysis Method: History and Form
A Five-Step Method
Summary of the Five-Step Method
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary Terms
Case Study: Playing Politics: Bison, Brucellosis, Business, and Bureaucrats
Chapter 7 Problem Definition, Mixed Methodologies, and Praxis
Anti-Praxis: The Two Tracks of Policy Analysis
The Ambiguous and Subjective Nature of Events in the System
School Shootings and Problem Definition
What Is the "Truth" and How Are Policies Generated?
Stone and Company: The Symbolic Representation of Problem Definition
The Social Construction of Public Problems
Mixed-Methods Tools
Using Language in Problem Definition: The Yellowstone Bison Controversy
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary Terms
Case Study: School Shootings and Focus Group Research: Narrative Analysis and Problem Definition
Chapter 8 Doing Democracy: A New (Six) Step Model
Defining Democracy
Democracy as an Ambiguous Symbol
The Critique of Traditional Policy Analysis
Structuring Democracy
Communitarianism and Democracy
Democratizing Steps I through IV and Inserting a New Fifth Step into a Six Step Model
Doing Democracy: Postpositivist Tools
Ethics as Democracy
A Tie that Binds
Mini-Case: Kathmandu: Red Pandas, Hunger, USAID, and Agriculture in Nepal
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary Terms
Case Study: Big-Mart: Cheap Goods at What Price? Stakeholders and Storytellers: Playing Politics and the Policy Process
Part IV: Conclusion - Praxis/Practice
Chapter 9 Letting you Show Off
Do Facts Matter?
Mini-Case: Opioid Abuse and Waterville (Revisited)
Concluding Thoughts
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
